Amy’s Choice: SPOILERS!!!!

I have to say that after last week’s trailer, I really didn’t think that I was going to enjoy this one but I was pleasantly surprised and this is really shaping up to be quite a good season overall. It had a very strange feel to it, more like a Twilight Zone episode than doctor Who but I quite enjoyed seeing something that I don’t think we’ve seen very much in the series since the Celestial Toymaker or the Mind Robber.

Thoughts:

·Really loved the iced up TARDIS – very, very atmospheric and reminded me of a Stargate episode where Carter and O’Neill get trapped on what they believe to be an ice planet with a broken star gate. Was that a painting of a dragon on the TARDIS wall that I saw in the Confidential?

·Still digging the expansion of the TARDIS crew into a threesome and really hoping that this lasts for a long time and that Rory doesn’t just hop on and off like Mickey. I felt this story tied up the Doctor-Amy-Rory triangle, which was set up at the end of Flesh and Stone rather nicely.

·The dilemma I thought was intriguing –I really thought I had a handle on which scenario was reality for the characters and didn’t see the ending coming; though wasn’t exactly sure why the Dream Lord wanted them to be in one scenario rather than the other.

·The Dream Lord – mmmm – I really thought this was the Toymaker or the Master of the Land of Fiction and really didn’t guess his real identity until it was revealed at the end – were those last few seconds an indication that we’ll see him again?

·Wasn’t exactly sure about the old people (Tony from the Flashing Blade is right, there are a lot of eyes this series), they were a cost effective monster, I suppose, and herein lies my only criticism that it felt a bit like an episode designed to save money. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy it, and why should a series waste money on CGI if it doesn’t have to but, was it me, or did it just feel a little bit cheap? Maybe that’s unfair. I don’t know.

Anyway, a surprising 7 out of 10 for me. But what about that trailer for next week. That looked great!

I also thought it was The Master of the Land Of Fiction, but it turned out to be the Valeyard (more or less...)

Matt Smith was brilliant again but I think Amy is just a little too forceful...at times she seems more in control than The Doctor (not just in this story but all the previous ones). Maybe this a thread...I noticed there was no 'crack' in this episode.

Now this episode was completely amazing.. Amy's choice ranks among the eleventh hour and the angel episodes as one of the best so far.. I loved it.. Found myself quite emotional over the Amy and Rory scenes.. (blubs like a baby) Am so happy she chose Rory so we can avoid the unrequited love interest angle which was fully realised through Martha Jones so don't want to go down that path again..

Amy's choice is the kind of episode I would show someone who wanted to know why Doctor Who is so great.. Episodes such as this fully justify the reason as to why Doctor Who is my favourite tv show ever..

It was interesting as to how the Dream Lord was The Doctor.. Silly me thought he could have been the meddling monk, or the master or even Riversong.. The mention of the Doctor's real name kinda got me on that method of thinking.. The actor who played him was fantastic too. Think that the knock on effects from Mars are still being felt along with the fact he never forgives himself for the demise of his race.. And the Dream Lords reflection in the Tardis desktop at the end then changing back to the Doctor means that we are very likely to see him again..

Yeah the effects were simple but with episodes like this you don't need a lot of effects to make the story great.. I am happy to have Rory as a fully realised third member of the Tardis.. He is very good..

So now lets keep the pace and quality up guys.. You have me back very excitedly anticipating new episodes.. And Matt is the Doctor.. I have had mixed feelings about him this series but after this episode he is the Doctor.. So please no more doubting episodes..

Now this episode was completely amazing.. Amy's choice ranks among the eleventh hour and the angel episodes as one of the best so far.. I loved it.. Found myself quite emotional over the Amy and Rory scenes.. (blubs like a baby) Am so happy she chose Rory so we can avoid the unrequited love interest angle which was fully realised through Martha Jones so don't want to go down that path again..

Amy's choice is the kind of episode I would show someone who wanted to know why Doctor Who is so great.. Episodes such as this fully justify the reason as to why Doctor Who is my favourite tv show ever..

It was interesting as to how the Dream Lord was The Doctor.. Silly me thought he could have been the meddling monk, or the master or even Riversong.. The mention of the Doctor's real name kinda got me on that method of thinking.. The actor who played him was fantastic too. Think that the knock on effects from Mars are still being felt along with the fact he never forgives himself for the demise of his race.. And the Dream Lords reflection in the Tardis desktop at the end then changing back to the Doctor means that we are very likely to see him again..

Yeah the effects were simple but with episodes like this you don't need a lot of effects to make the story great.. I am happy to have Rory as a fully realised third member of the Tardis.. He is very good..

So now lets keep the pace and quality up guys.. You have me back very excitedly anticipating new episodes.. And Matt is the Doctor.. I have had mixed feelings about him this series but after this episode he is the Doctor.. So please no more doubting episodes..

Before watching this episode I rewatched "The Vampires of Venice" and was a little disappointed on how it stood up on a second viewing. I suspect, though, that "Amy's Choice" will be a joy to watch again to spot all the clues pointing to the fact that the Dream Lord was, in fact, the Doctor (such as the nod to "Rose" when the Dream Lord looks at Amy and seductively says "anything could happen" which was what Jackie said to the Doctor when first they met).

I loved this episode, the pacing seemed spot on, for once, not feeling too rushed which is quite a feat considering that in a way they had two stories to tell. Not going to wax lyrical about Matt Smith but I did think that it was Karen Gillans best performance to date. I am very pleased with her relationship with Rory and am even more pleased that she chooses Rory over the Doctor. I really do hope that this TARDIS crew makes it to the end of the season.

The Dream Lord... all the way through I was convinced that it was the Meddling Monk (or the Celestial Toymaker) and to be honest with you, I am a little disappointed that he wasn't as I thought that Toby Jones performance was so good, funny, scary and definately "meddling" that he would have made a great 21st century version of that fellow filled with "monkery". The revelation that "he was the Doctor all the time" did completely take me by surprise. I was a little disappointed that this would rule out a return appearance but his reflection at the end hints that maybe this might not be the case. I would love the Doctor to literally be his own worst enemy (and this has so much more potential than the Valeyard)

The only real negative I had was the pensioners. I like the idea in theory but the monsters within them were disappointing (more eyes) and they moved so slowly that they lost some of their threat. Of course, this particular criticsim could be thought of as null and void owing to the fact that they do actually kill one of the companions which ultimately leads to "Amy's Choice". I also felt that the ending was a little bit of an anti-climax. Hallucinajenic pollen? Not convinced! I am hoping that there was more to this episode than meets the eyes and the possible promise of the return of the Dream Lord at the end limits the disappointing ending

As stated above, Karen Gillan puts in her best performance and I genuinely felt the old hearts strings vibrate when she chooses to (possibly) end her life due to her loss.

All in all I would easily give this a 5/5 (although I have dropped "Vampires of Venice" down to a 3/5) because I was well and truly hooked from start to finish and it continues this seasons extremely high standard!

On a quick aside regarding the Confidential... was this one big massive joke? Some of it felt so cringe makingly bad that I felt like I was watching an episode of "Brass Eye" or "This is Spinal Tap". I am not knocking it because if it was all a wind up (by Arthur Darvill) then it was pure genius and very funny! If it wasn't then... "oh Dear" Ha ha. I think it was a wind up myself but would love to hear other peoples view on it!!!

And I mean that in every possible way. Finally. So that's three really good ones and one so so one (Daleks in WW2). Anyway, the story, someone mentoined is like a NEW ADVENTURE and it is but it goes one better: it makes the companion take that extra step into actually having to make the and stay with the choice...or does she?

That does't really matter. The setting is alot like the old THE AVENGERS at times---many eps were set in old fashioned out of the way villages and here, it's really a plus...it looks charming and quaint and yet somehow sinister with the goings on...the dark that other fans want is here too: having old people kill children and the Doc saying "Playtime's over" and having a pregnant woman get her boyfriend/husband killed is darkness personified and having to kill yourself, even if it is possible that is it a dream...is dark the nth power...however, the resolution is very DW and very positive: LOVE. Amy loves Rory and realizes that and it turns her whole character around for me. I have to admit to being a wuss and crying from when Rory was about to die to the ...almost the whole end. What the entire thing meant to Amy, Rory and the Doctor was just touching and a bit disturbing on an emotional level.

It also had the feel of...well, EDGE OF DESTRUCTION with the whole ice sun and that reminded me of an ice volcano in PLANET OF THE DALEKS. It also, as some mention, had the feel of CELESTIAL TOYMAKER and THE MIND ROBBER but I might also throw in WAR GAMES as I kept getting that feel, too and almost any Master episode. I kept thinking of Roger Delgado and how'd he have done this. THe Dream Lord is just...that actor pulls it all off so well...he's just fantastic. Now he is a hologram so is he like the hologram used in PARTING OF THE WAYS and a few other stories in the new series? Either way he makes a great villain, one that this show, the new version of DW has NEVER gotten correct. A male villain who is not a slathering raving monster...the John Sim Master, the guy in THE LAST GAME, any of the male villains in the specials...none of them worked. This is probably the first male almost human being that works in the new show well apart from Derek Jacobi.

Speaking of which. Old People as monsters. It SO works. Okay there's this old movie called THE HOMEBODIES where old people don't want their apartment complex shut down and they start killing people threatening them...THAT is scary and one horrible grim moment comes when a social worker girl is stabbed with an closed umbrella. This does'nt come close to that and that movie went way off the rails after the first 45 min of so...this doesn't. THe old people as attackers works well here...what doesn't is the eye things in their mouths. It is more like the 1970s remake of INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS than it is..I dunno, original. Still, even the old aliens in the bodies can't slow this down...it IS a dream after all.

The pace, the emotion, the jokes, all work once again and add to the fine plot and fine cinematography. THe pregnant jokes, the jokes on Rory, the jibes at the Doctor, mostly from the Dream Lord but also from Amy and Rory...all work. What is tottering on not working is or rather was the Rory/Doctor competition. If they went any further I'd have been a bit...it's too Chris vs Mickey sort of thing and that always felt uncomfortable but right for that season. Here, it would not sit right with me. I"m SO glad this Doctor conceded and even in a way lost the girl to the Rory...who I'm tired of them making seem like a fool when he's really not.

Even when looking at the Dream Lord from the van passenger window, Matt Smith makes the Doctor less anger Tennant/Chris and more of his own calm acceptance...he's brilliant and he now seems like his own Doctor totally. I detected almost no trace of the Tennant vs all other male syndrome that permeated the 10th Doctor/9th Doctor time.

The fact that both were dreams...why'd the Doctor hologram lie? But that second ending threw me but it makes a bit of sense and isn't so off the wall, off the cuff that it ruins it all (as in FLESH AND BLOOD)...

Anyway this is the best story of the season and along with VAMPIRES OF VENICE and TIME OF THE ANGELS (yeah, part one was good, part two the worst of the season) and if I"m really in a good mood, the Dalek story, maybe) the season might be salvaged if the rest of it is good. NExt week's scenes finally FINALLY! brought up the urgency feeling again that this is an exciting show about a man/alien who scares monsters...and it looks exciting but I can't help but think we've seen alot of what they previewed before...but it could be good if it is done in a certain style...and looks set to. One thing: I don't take too kindly to kids being killed so I hope the little boy in this isn't going to get killed by the S....

That's a good point actually. On the same note the Dream Lord also does not exist. He was created by the Doctor's subconcious brought on by the hallucinogenic pollen. I HOPE though, that the Dream Lord has been created by the Doctor's mind so that he can make a reappearance... I think there could be quite a lot of mileage out of that character!

The episode: brilliant. The script: inspired. I thank the writer, Simon Nye, for picking up the background atmosphere of competition over Amy and bringing it to the fore front and making it part of the plot. Amy, choose - over and done, let's move on.

I, for one, am thrilled to see Amy choose Rory. Don't get me wrong. I would love to see the Doctor involved in a reciprocal, adult romantic relationship with someone who is as close to an equal as he can find. And it doesn't have to be River Song. Shoot, I've always figured he was boffing some companion or another going all the way back to Romana II. However, I will raise my voice with those who just couldn't stand all the mooning over the Doctor that has been going on these past five years. And never mind the end of FLESH AND STONE. It does happen that when someone goes thru a life-threatening experience that the reaction is to act out a life-affirming one, such as the one Amy was attempting. Take the M*A*S*H 2-part-er COMRADES IN ARMS as an example. Anyway, Amy and Rory belong together. It would have just have seemed contrived if Nye had had her choose the Doctor.

I like Rory. I don't see him as another Mickey. Mickey was the Tin Dog. Rory is more the "Jamie" here. The only reason I can see for his bumblings is his unsuraty about Amy's love for him. Now that that's cleared up I think, I hope, we'll be seeing a much more sure footed, gung-ho Rory. I am also thrilled to see another man in the TARDIS. I hope he's there for a good long time. I've always loved a crowded TARDIS. Makes for more interesting dialog. This is also a bit new. A young, about to be married couple adventuring together thru time and space. Interesting to see how this shapes their relationship. And here's something to chew on; if they can travel with the Doctor for as long as they like and still get back home to be married in the morning - how do they explain aging for that amount of time overnight?

General Episode Stuff:

Now, who put the dead ferret on Arthur Darvill's head??? My god I've seen better wigs on William Shatner! In this day and age of make-up artistry they couldn't find anything better than a rug that comes straight out of the '70s? Or maybe they were trying for that old, 20th Century Doctor Who feel. Or is it just me? On the Confidential they all seemed to think it looked smashing.

Aside from the ponytail, this ep was fantastic. Toby Jones does such a good job at being so subtly sinister he had me a bit frightened there for our heroes. What can I say but to reiterate that which others above have already said that is good about this show. 5 out of 5, this is classic Doctor Who. Beautiful, beautiful, huzzah!

(Disclamer: The opinions in this post belong to me and are not intended in anyway to piss anyone off. However, if they have, might I suggest a bit of chocolate and a nice cup of tea?)

Slightly disappointed with the story, but overall not bad. I just felt like it'd be more scary based on the previews from last week.

- I like the concept of The Dream Lord character. On the one hand it's bad that he was really just a figment of the Doctor's imagination because he could've been a good recurring villain, and I doubt we'll see him again. But on the other hand it was good because we get a glimpse into the Doctor's subconscious.

- It's a very interesting and telling quote from the Doctor to the Dream Lord: "There's only one person in the universe who hates me as much as you do."

- It might have been better if we found out earlier that the whole thing was of The Doctor's thinking. Then it would've been almost like The Doctor versus himself. Sort of in the same style as The Doctor fighting The Master and The Valyard in the matrix...

- I miss the concept of the lone villain. The Doctor seems to be dealing with large groups of enemies or entire species. What happened to the days of greedy, megolomaniacial fiends?

- I am happy Amy chose Rory (well for now at least). Hopefully this'll change the focus from writing stories that explore the relationship tension between The Doctor and his companions, to stories that deal with timey-wimey stuff.

- Perhaps the thing that irked me the most was just the fact that it was a dream/hallucination. They were never in any real danger. Oh yeah and old people moving at a snail's pace are not scary.

This story wasn't that great to me but I think I may have been influenced by all the hype for this story. I expected a hugely, massively, amazingly, ___________(add any positive adjectives here), and with all the buzz I've been hearing about it it seemed to be a let-down to me. It may have been a victim of it's own hype.

Don't get me wrong - it a pretty good story, but just not as good as other stories we've had this season (series).

It did seem to build on the "dream", "fairy-tale" or "fantasy" feeling of the season by this all being revealed to be a halucination from pollen in the TARDIS, but I just didn't buy it.

I did have problems of the Dream Lord. If he is supposed to be the negative side of the Doctor where were the negative emotions that goes with the it? He should have been more evil (to me) and the Dream Lord should have had a much darker persona.

We also have Rory to the rescue again - in this story he held off the possessed geriactrics to save Amy from the fate he suffered in the dream. Is Rory going to be the "knight in shining armor" at the end of the season? I suppose that was to build a closer tie to him and Amy but right now I'm going to hold judgement.

The final resolution of both scenarios being halucinations was disappointing, but not unexpected. I saw it as a false - false situation fairly early on - I just didn't know the cause.

I gave this one a 3 out of 5.

'Til next episode - see ya!

PS: Has anybody noticed that we have a lot of things related to the senses this season? In the first episode we had the eyes (sight) for aliens. The crack looks like a giant mouth (taste) - especially when it's open and light is coming out of it, We have the silence (sound) at the end of "Vampires in Venice". The pollen affected the mind (in some cultures the mind or spirit is considered another sense) in this week's story.

I'm wondering how they are going to do touch and smell. Of coure they may done some already but I missed the reference.